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BEAUMONT, TEXAS --- The University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (3-2) rallied from a 46-43 halftime deficit to claim a 94-89 victory over Southland Conference member Lamar Dec. 2 at the Montagne Center. The two teams traded leads 19 times over the course of the contest.

   Lamar looked to set the tone early, opening the game with a six-point (11-5) lead with just 16:56 remaining. The Blossoms would close the gap and take their first lead of the game (14-13) at the 14:26 mark of the first half on a Katrina Dean (Sr., Conway) three-pointer.

   The Blossoms extended their lead to seven (20-13) with 11:02 remaining, when the Lady Cardinals began to chip into the UAM lead, narrowing the lead to two (20-18) just one minute later. The Cotton Blossoms surged ahead yet again, taking another seven-point lead (27-20) on a three-pointer by Tasha Owens (Fr., Fox) with 8:38 remaining.

   Once again, the Lady Cardinals chipped into the UAM lead, tying the game and taking a one-point lead (30-29) on a pair of free throws by Chelsea Gugliotta. The Blossoms took their last lead (37-38) of the half on a free throw by TeAundra Harden (Jr., Monticello) with 3:46 left, but the Lady Cardinals immediately retook the lead and went into the half up by three.

   The Blossoms came out firing in the second half, tying the game on a Dean three-pointer just 14 seconds into the half, and taking the lead on a Wendy Young (Sr., Chapmans, St. Vincent) lay-up just over a minute in.

   The two teams traded leads down the stretch until Dean hit a three-pointer to give the Blossoms the lead (84-83) for good with 2:03 remaining. Lamar pulled to within one with a Gugliotta lay-up with 1:18 left, but were whistled for a technical foul immediately after, and Jenna Thomas (Sr., Shreveport, La.) iced a pair of free throws to push the Blossoms ahead by three (88-85).

   Lamar was then forced to foul, and the Blossoms converted all their free throws over the last 1:16 to seal the victory.

   The Cotton Blossoms placed five players in double figures, led by Theresa Tran (Sr., Mesquite, Texas) with 15 points. Thomas and Dean both scored 14 points, while Owens added 13 points and Young added 11. Thomas, Dean and Young tied for the team lead with six rebounds apiece. Dean also dished out seven assists.

   Lamar’s Gugliotta led all scorers with 19 points.

   Lamar held a 42-36 advantage on the rebounding glass, but the Cotton Blossoms were able to force 15 Lamar turnovers, shoot 44.4 percent (12-of-27) from the three-point line and shoot 84.6 percent (22-of-26) from the free-throw line en route to the victory. The Blossoms capitalized on the 15 turnovers, scoring 20 points off turnovers to Lamar’s nine.

   The Cotton Blossoms return to action Saturday, Dec. 10, hosting West Alabama at Steelman Fieldhouse. A 2 p.m. tip-off is scheduled.

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